Ford, who is House Minority Leader, on Friday named a 27-member committee that includes current and former school officials, law enforcement officials, parents and students.

“This issue is so important that we need to involve everybody, not just a few elected officials. It's time that we have an ‘all-hands-on-deck' discussion of how we can realistically protect our children and preserve our schools' integrity,” Ford said.

Ford last month said he would appoint a committee of non-elected officials to work alongside the county's task force on school and courthouse security.

“There's no easy solution to this problem, and that's why we need to include ideas and opinions from members of every aspect in our community,” he said.

Elected officials will be invited to attend the meeting, Ford said, which will be open to the public.

Smith and Christensen are seniors at Etowah and Gadsden City high schools, respectively.

Ex-officio members that include some elected and public officials and members of the county task force are Etowah County Board of Education member Tim Langdale; school superintendents Alan Cosby (Etowah County), Ed Miller (Gadsden City) and David Bowman (Attalla City); Gadsden Police Chief John Crane; Attalla Mayor Larry Means; Sheriff Todd Entrekin; District Attorney Jimmie Harp; and Tony Reddick, director of the J.K. Weaver Technical Center.

“I selected this group of officials to advise the committee because they represent an array of aspects in local government,” Ford said. “They can bring insight on how schools, law enforcement and administrators actually operate and how we can best implement our plans in the county.”

Ford said he wants the committee to begin discussions immediately.

“I want to make sure that we are moving toward a solid and comprehensive solution to this problem before the legislative session begins in February,” he said. “I will be spending as much of my time as possible to make sure that the committee works to achieve the goals that we set this Friday.”

Too often, Ford said, elected officials are on committees “and we listen to ourselves talk. These are the people that actually elected us and these are the people that know better than we do.”

He said if the discussions show legislation is needed, he'll introduce it, and if revenue measures are required, he'll talk to members of the local legislative delegation to see what they will support.

“You can't just sit back and do nothing — something's going to have to be done,” Ford said. “This has been a situation that has needed to be addressed for a long time.”

He said his committee isn't “political,” and will work “hand in hand” with the county task force and will share its findings with the legislative delegation.

Ford said he's heard Gov. Robert Bentley will propose school safety legislation and that some state funding might be available.

<p>A committee named by state Rep. Craig Ford, D-Gadsden, to make recommendations about school security will meet at 10 a.m. next Friday at The Chamber of Gadsden and Etowah County.</p><p>Ford, who is House Minority Leader, on Friday named a 27-member committee that includes current and former school officials, law enforcement officials, parents and students.</p><p>“This issue is so important that we need to involve everybody, not just a few elected officials. It's time that we have an 'all-hands-on-deck' discussion of how we can realistically protect our children and preserve our schools' integrity,” Ford said.</p><p>Ford last month said he would appoint a committee of non-elected officials to work alongside the county's task force on school and courthouse security.</p><p>“There's no easy solution to this problem, and that's why we need to include ideas and opinions from members of every aspect in our community,” he said. </p><p>Elected officials will be invited to attend the meeting, Ford said, which will be open to the public.</p><p>The committee members are J. Holland, Max Dover, Matt Sims, Andy Gardner, Sgt. Lanny Handy, Charlotte Smith Campbell, Ralph Burke, Marguerite Early, Tim Heard, Kathryn Barrett, Sharon Thomas, Gertie Lowe, Kerry Hicks, Jenny Spencer, Robert Darnell, Tim Lett, Michael Smith and Rebecca Christensen.</p><p>Smith and Christensen are seniors at Etowah and Gadsden City high schools, respectively.</p><p>Ex-officio members that include some elected and public officials and members of the county task force are Etowah County Board of Education member Tim Langdale; school superintendents Alan Cosby (Etowah County), Ed Miller (Gadsden City) and David Bowman (Attalla City); Gadsden Police Chief John Crane; Attalla Mayor Larry Means; Sheriff Todd Entrekin; District Attorney Jimmie Harp; and Tony Reddick, director of the J.K. Weaver Technical Center.</p><p>“I selected this group of officials to advise the committee because they represent an array of aspects in local government,” Ford said. “They can bring insight on how schools, law enforcement and administrators actually operate and how we can best implement our plans in the county.”</p><p>Ford said he wants the committee to begin discussions immediately.</p><p>“I want to make sure that we are moving toward a solid and comprehensive solution to this problem before the legislative session begins in February,” he said. “I will be spending as much of my time as possible to make sure that the committee works to achieve the goals that we set this Friday.”</p><p>Too often, Ford said, elected officials are on committees “and we listen to ourselves talk. These are the people that actually elected us and these are the people that know better than we do.”</p><p>He said if the discussions show legislation is needed, he'll introduce it, and if revenue measures are required, he'll talk to members of the local legislative delegation to see what they will support.</p><p>“You can't just sit back and do nothing — something's going to have to be done,” Ford said. “This has been a situation that has needed to be addressed for a long time.”</p><p>He said his committee isn't “political,” and will work “hand in hand” with the county task force and will share its findings with the legislative delegation.</p><p>Ford said he's heard Gov. Robert Bentley will propose school safety legislation and that some state funding might be available.</p>